Relying on the Expertise of an Illinois DUI Lawyer

Criminal convictions are no laughing matter. Having even one show up on your personal record can infringe upon your ability to find employment or make major purchases. Every year in IL thousands of citizens are arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence, yet many fail to call an Illinois DUI lawyer right away. Erring towards the aid of public defenders may seem logical at the time of your trial, but the likelihood of a civil servant being able to match the expertise of a privately practicing attorney is rare. Illinois law is loaded with caveats and intricacies which may cause difficulty for even the most seasoned of professionals if it doesn’t fall into their area of expertise.

The immediate effect a DUI arrest (not a conviction) will be the revocation of your license. This obviously has the potential to affect your livelihood, limiting your ability to be there for your family. The sooner you retain the services of an attorney specializing in DUI charges, the greater the chance you will be able to have your license back sooner. Critical paperwork must be filed in order to appeal the revocation to the Department of Motor Vehicles. This knowledge, far from the working experience of the average citizen being processed for a crime, is one of the many reasons you should spend the money to have a professional take care of your case.

Costs resulting from an arrest and trial for driving under the influence can vary greatly, though most defendants will end up paying no less than $5,000 after all is said and done. This number can be dramatically higher should you forgo the services of a DUI attorney and instead enter your own plea. The state prefers that individuals charged with vehicular misdemeanors take the fast track of paying court fees online and agreeing to attend traffic school as well as substance abuse courses. They make more money that way and spend less time in the courtroom working to present viable case against you.

A solid lawyer will not only be able to have your charges reduced (especially if it is your first offense) they may be able to get the case thrown out completely. By looking at several key factors, such as your BAC at the time of the arrest, officer statements, and other events prior to or after the traffic stop, your attorney may be able to illustrate evidence of a wrongful arrest or, at the very least, obtain a liberal amount of forgiveness from the judge.